6.0°C > 10.0°C: Overnight rain just about stopped as I arrived. Thereafter blue skies. Light south-westerly breeze. Excellent visibility.
Sunrise: 07:09 GMT
* = a species photographed today
$ = my first sighting of the species for this year
$$ = my first ever recorded sighting of the species in the area
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 06:00 – 09:25
(268th visit of the year)
A typically hectic Autumn morning with birds flying everywhere. Strangely after yesterday there were no Starlings see leaving roosts around the lake. There were birds flying over, presumably from nearby roosts.
Bird notes:
- just two westbound Greylag Geese noted: there were more Canada Geese than this.
- only a pair of Gadwall was noted on the water. Later a trio flew West. I was not in a position to see whether they had come from the water here.
- no sensible total was possible for the Mallard. They were flying in and out all the time and early on when many were settled on the water there was low-level mist. Sixteen were seen in the air together,
- eventually big numbers of migrant Wood Pigeons.
- Lesser Black-backed Gulls were in lower than usual numbers early. Later as many flew over as visited in a constant stream of arrivals and departures. Oddly Herring Gulls were only noted on the water with none found flying over.
- small numbers Redwing flew overhead. **Later at least 20 were with four Song Thrushes and a dozen or so Blackbirds in berry-laden bushes alongside the West end path. Amazingly there was a *female Blackcap with them. My first-ever November record in Shropshire.
- two Lesser Redpoll were heard passing over.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 22 Canada Geese: westbound together
- 2 Greylag Geese: westbound together
- 3 (2♂) Gadwall: see notes
- 4 (3♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Stock Doves: at least among the migrant...
- c.1550 Wood Pigeons: of these c.1500 in 21 migrant groups
- 136 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 533 Jackdaws
- 113 Rooks
- 205 Starlings: six groups
- 16 Redwings: two groups
- 2 Pied Wagtails: singles again
- 2 Lesser Redpolls: singles
- 2 Siskins: singles again
Birds seen leaving roosts around the lake
- 1 Redwing
- no Starlings
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall: see notes
- 16 (?♂) Mallard: see notes
- 35 (13♂) Tufted Duck
- 13 Moorhens
- 51 Coots
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- c.250 Black-headed Gulls
- *19 Herring Gulls
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull: first-winter
- c.210 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: c.80 early: c.130 after 08:00
- 1 Grey Heron
Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Not much: wet from overnight rain
A typically hectic Autumn morning with birds flying everywhere. Strangely after yesterday there were no Starlings see leaving roosts around the lake. There were birds flying over, presumably from nearby roosts.
Bird notes:
- just two westbound Greylag Geese noted: there were more Canada Geese than this.
- only a pair of Gadwall was noted on the water. Later a trio flew West. I was not in a position to see whether they had come from the water here.
- no sensible total was possible for the Mallard. They were flying in and out all the time and early on when many were settled on the water there was low-level mist. Sixteen were seen in the air together,
- eventually big numbers of migrant Wood Pigeons.
- Lesser Black-backed Gulls were in lower than usual numbers early. Later as many flew over as visited in a constant stream of arrivals and departures. Oddly Herring Gulls were only noted on the water with none found flying over.
- small numbers Redwing flew overhead. **Later at least 20 were with four Song Thrushes and a dozen or so Blackbirds in berry-laden bushes alongside the West end path. Amazingly there was a *female Blackcap with them. My first-ever November record in Shropshire.
- two Lesser Redpoll were heard passing over.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 22 Canada Geese: westbound together
- 2 Greylag Geese: westbound together
- 3 (2♂) Gadwall: see notes
- 4 (3♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Stock Doves: at least among the migrant...
- c.1550 Wood Pigeons: of these c.1500 in 21 migrant groups
- 136 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 533 Jackdaws
- 113 Rooks
- 205 Starlings: six groups
- 16 Redwings: two groups
- 2 Pied Wagtails: singles again
- 2 Lesser Redpolls: singles
- 2 Siskins: singles again
Birds seen leaving roosts around the lake
- 1 Redwing
- no Starlings
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall: see notes
- 16 (?♂) Mallard: see notes
- 35 (13♂) Tufted Duck
- 13 Moorhens
- 51 Coots
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- c.250 Black-headed Gulls
- *19 Herring Gulls
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull: first-winter
- c.210 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: c.80 early: c.130 after 08:00
- 1 Grey Heron
Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Not much: wet from overnight rain
Moths:
- *1 November Moth type Epirrita sp.
- *1 November Moth type Epirrita sp.
Springtails:
- 1 globular springtail sp.
- 1 globular springtail sp.
Flies:
- 2 winter craneflies Trichocera sp.
- 2 winter craneflies Trichocera sp.
Arthropods:
- *1 $$ Common Pygmy Woodlouse Trichoniscus pusillus agg.
- *1 $$ Common Pygmy Woodlouse Trichoniscus pusillus agg.
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 harvestman Paroligolophus agrestis
Later or on the Teece Drive fence:
- 1 harvestman Paroligolophus agrestis
Later or on the Teece Drive fence:
Nothing noted
"I've won". I am not sure why but it is usually the new arrival that displaces the incumbent. Note another first-winter Herring Gull pecking at the buoy. It seems to be mostly immature Herring Gulls that do this. I was told that it was an involuntary action just as pecking at the red spot on the adult's bill makes the adults regurgitate food for nestlings. That I could understand with a red buoy but a yellow one?
The West end hedge is full of Hawthorn berries (haws) and all the thrush family were tucking in. A male Blackbird.
Now it is November the November Moth type moths Epirrita sp. seem to be fading away. One last look for the year perhaps?
(263rd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- the pair of (Common) Teal was not seen. I should not complain about the bright sun but the contrast made seeing anything against the island a struggle so they could still be around.
- *a Pochard was a new arrival. In the strong, contrasting light I would not like to age or sex the bird.
- *the Little Egret noted again hiding on edge of the island.
- for the first time for several weeks I noted a Collared Dove and it was "singing". Where do they go outside the breeding season?
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Cormorant
- *4 Skylarks: together
- 1 Jackdaw
Noted on / around the water:
- >21 Canada Geese: more inside the island?
- >11 Greylag Geese: more inside the island?
- 1 mainly white feral goose: more inside the island?
- 5 Mute Swans again
- 29 (19♂) Mallard
- *1 (?♂) Pochard
- 21 (11♂) Tufted Duck
- 36 (4♂) Goosander
- 11 Moorhens
- 84 Coots
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 76 Black-headed Gulls
- 6 Herring Gulls: all immatures
- *7 Cormorants
- *2 Grey Herons
- *1 Little Egret
Noted around the area:
A glorious Autumn morning.
B(u)oys, b(u)oys... Two first-winter Herring Gulls dispute who is going to stand on the buoy.
A female Blackbird.
A Redwing looking around nervously. This species was the hardest to get close to.
I eventually managed it, not before...
...it had shown me that it does indeed have red in the underwing.
A Song Thrush spoilt for choice as to what to eat.
Another Song Thrush.
"Show me what you had for breakfast". "Haws?"
This I did not expect. A female Blackcap! In November! I do not think I have seen one in November before. "Our" breeding birds leave by late September. While Blackcaps do overwinter, in increasing numbers, it is thought that these are birds from Central Europe. They are most often seen from December onwards.
I doubt this Wren is interested in berries.
Now a Dunnock looks to join in.
It is the bill that best identifies this as a female Greenfinch.
She is not after the berries but has found a seed, probably from one of the Brambles.
A very small creature: as far as I can tell this is my first record of a species from the group of Common Pygmy Woodlouse Trichoniscus pusillus agg. Agg. for aggregate as separation of at least different species is not possible from photos.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel pre-dawn:
(Ed Wilson)
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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel pre-dawn:
Flies:
- *1 cranefly Limonia nubeculosa
- 9 midges only again of various species
- *1 cranefly Limonia nubeculosa
- 9 midges only again of various species
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 3 spiders only: usual species
- 1 harvestman Opilio canestrinii
- 3 spiders only: usual species
- 1 harvestman Opilio canestrinii
A different cranefly today made hard to find and identify by the imbecilic scribblings of mindless folk who consider themselves the next Banksy – and he is a criminal as well. Rant over. The cranefly Limonia nubeculosa.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:30 – 10:55
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 09:30 – 10:55
(263rd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- the pair of (Common) Teal was not seen. I should not complain about the bright sun but the contrast made seeing anything against the island a struggle so they could still be around.
- *a Pochard was a new arrival. In the strong, contrasting light I would not like to age or sex the bird.
- *the Little Egret noted again hiding on edge of the island.
- for the first time for several weeks I noted a Collared Dove and it was "singing". Where do they go outside the breeding season?
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Cormorant
- *4 Skylarks: together
- 1 Jackdaw
Noted on / around the water:
- >21 Canada Geese: more inside the island?
- >11 Greylag Geese: more inside the island?
- 1 mainly white feral goose: more inside the island?
- 5 Mute Swans again
- 29 (19♂) Mallard
- *1 (?♂) Pochard
- 21 (11♂) Tufted Duck
- 36 (4♂) Goosander
- 11 Moorhens
- 84 Coots
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 76 Black-headed Gulls
- 6 Herring Gulls: all immatures
- *7 Cormorants
- *2 Grey Herons
- *1 Little Egret
Noted around the area:
Moths:
- none
- none
Butterflies:
- *1 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
- *1 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
Bees, wasps etc.:
- >50 wasps: only Common Wasps Paravespula vulgaris specifically identified
- >50 wasps: only Common Wasps Paravespula vulgaris specifically identified
Hoverflies:
- *1 Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
- *>5 Tapered Droneflies Eristalis pertinax
- >2 Common Droneflies Eristalis tenax
- *1 Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
- *>5 Tapered Droneflies Eristalis pertinax
- >2 Common Droneflies Eristalis tenax
Other flies:
- *1 Muscid fly Phaonia subventa
- *1 Muscid fly Phaonia subventa
Fungus:
- *Shaggy Inkcap or Lawyer's Wig Coprinus comatus: just a stem!
Plane of the day. This is a Czech Aircraft Works CZAW SportCruiser built from a kit in 2008. It is currently owned by a syndicate who fly it out of what is variously called Manchester City Airport or, more usually, Barton Aerodrome. It was here en route to Wolverhampton's Halfpenny Green Airport, with the occupants perhaps having a meal in their excellent restaurant. Before returning to Barton it was flown via Welshpool Airport where there is also an excellent eaterie (not open every day). Both establishments are open to the public by road and give good views of the aerodrome activity.
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
7 Pochard
Kestrel
Little Grebe
Sparrowhawk
(John Isherwood)
2011
Priorslee Lake
4 Yellow legged Gulls
(John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
36 Pochard
85 Tufted Ducks
4 Lapwings over
c.200 Starlings roosted at W end
53 Wood Pigeons
249 Fieldfare
14 Redwings
7 Siskins
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
Little Grebes
17 Pochard
57 Tufted Ducks
1 drake Ruddy Duck
c.170 Golden Plover
1175 Wood Pigeons
1 Kingfisher
16 Pied Wagtails
22 Wrens
10 Dunnocks
27 Robins
22 Blackbirds
298 Fieldfares
8 Song Thrushes
24 Redwings
1 Mistle Thrush
69 Starlings
12 Chaffinches
33 Greenfinches
11 Goldfinches
1 Redpoll
5 Bullfinches
9 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
2005
Priorslee Lake
Adult Arctic Tern
172 Redwing
9 Pochard
47 Tufted Duck
Siskin
Redpolls
7 Reed Buntings
Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)
- *Shaggy Inkcap or Lawyer's Wig Coprinus comatus: just a stem!
The Pochard that was a new arrival today. The pale around the eye suggests an immature. It is had to be sure in the very contrasting light.
"Look in to my eyes!" As previously noted all members of the Shag / Cormorant family have colourful eyes, some red, some green, some blue. Here is "our" Cormorant showing its green eyes.
One of the two Grey Heron's here this morning. Many elongated feathers indicate it is already coming in to breeding condition. Herons are early nesters with heronries in full cry by the end of February.
The Little Egret was again trying to look like a lost plastic bag on the island. Not with those yellow feet visible.
Two from the group of four Skylarks flying over. They have a very distinctive flight call. Here the broad wings with rounded tips are the best feature. Wings designed for climbing high in to the sky while singing away.
Well that's not very nice Mr. or Ms. Wren.
A bit of sun in a sheltered location and out pops a Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta even though the ambient temperature was around the magic 10°C.
My big camera does take better insect photos than my smartphone! Here is a Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus.
A female (the eyes do not meet) Tapered Droneflies Eristalis pertinax.
Another. Both less tapered than...
...a male.
I believe this to be the Muscid fly Phaonia subventa.
Eek! The Lawyer has lost his Wig Coprinus comatus
(Ed Wilson)
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2012
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
7 Pochard
Kestrel
Little Grebe
Sparrowhawk
(John Isherwood)
2011
Priorslee Lake
4 Yellow legged Gulls
(John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
36 Pochard
85 Tufted Ducks
4 Lapwings over
c.200 Starlings roosted at W end
53 Wood Pigeons
249 Fieldfare
14 Redwings
7 Siskins
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
Little Grebes
17 Pochard
57 Tufted Ducks
1 drake Ruddy Duck
c.170 Golden Plover
1175 Wood Pigeons
1 Kingfisher
16 Pied Wagtails
22 Wrens
10 Dunnocks
27 Robins
22 Blackbirds
298 Fieldfares
8 Song Thrushes
24 Redwings
1 Mistle Thrush
69 Starlings
12 Chaffinches
33 Greenfinches
11 Goldfinches
1 Redpoll
5 Bullfinches
9 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
2005
Priorslee Lake
Adult Arctic Tern
172 Redwing
9 Pochard
47 Tufted Duck
Siskin
Redpolls
7 Reed Buntings
Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)